Improvement in corsets



L. H. POY. Corset.

No. 214,247. Patented April 15,1879.

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'wlmessess NFETERS. PNDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D 04 UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE.

LAVINIA H. FOY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORSE'I S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,247, dated April 15, 1879; application filed February 10, 1879.

To all. whom it may concern Be it known that I, LAVINIA H. FOY, of the city and county of New Haven, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 represents a front perspective view of a corset embracing my said improvements. Fig. 2 represents a back or rear perspective view of the corset shown in Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 represent sections indicated by lineA B, Fig. 2, of the rear lower part of the corset under modified forms of construction, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use the same, I will proceed to describe it more in detail.

My improved corset C is cut to fit the form of the wearer, and is provided with the usual metal clasps infront and stiffen ers throughout, like an ordinary corset. It is also provided with shoulderstraps D D and side lacings E. If preferred, the latter may be dispensed with upon the sides, and lacings down the center of the back of the corset employed in place of the same.

Just below the waist-line a bustle or skirtsupporter, F, is combined with the back 0 of the corset, and below said bustle or skirt-supporter F is formed an opening, G, the purposeof which will be hereinafter more fully described.

Bustle or skirt-supporter F, which extends at either side beyond the ends of opening G, may be made detachable, as represented in Figs. 3 and 4, by means of buttons to, or by hooks, buckles, lacings, or in any other suitable manner; or, if desired, it may be formed or stitched upon the corset or secured thereto in any other desirable and suitable manner.

The object in forming an opening, G, inthe back C of the corset "5s to avoid heat and pressure at that point upon the form of the wearer, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

This opening G, when covered at all, should be provided with onlya thin covering of some soft flexible open material, G, such as crinoline haircloth, lace, &c., as represented in Fig. 2, or it may be provided with cords, crossed as represented at b, Fig. 3, by securing eyelets c in each edge of the same, while, if desired, in any case, it may be left entirely open or uncovered, as shown in Fig. 4.

Ordinary corsets out long in the back, and provided with heavy stiffeners down through the center of the same, are found, on account of the pressure and heat produced thereby in the region of the spine and kidneys, to be very hurtful, causing some of the most obstinate and painful diseases.

By my invention of forming an opening, G, in the back of the corset, as before described, it will be seen that the latter objections are almost entirely obviated.

The corset C may be made adjustable in the back, either above or below opening G, or both above and below said opening.

The ends of part H, below opening G, are stitched to the gored pieces I of the corset.

When it is desired to make the back of the corset adjustable below opening G, said part H is divided in the center, and each end provided with eyelets and a cord, in the usual manner.

It will be observed by the drawings that the bustle Orskirt-suppoTter F is made quite long, extending around the sides nearly to the side lacings. The purpose of this is to make a better support for the clothing secured above it than is obtained by the use of a short bustle in ordinary use.

Having described my improvements in corsets, what 1 claim therein as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1 A corset having a long back, and provided with a wide cross-opening, G, below the waist-line thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination, with the back C of the corset O and lower cross-piece H, of a flexible open-work covering, G, substantially as andfor the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with the back C of a corset provided with a wide cross-opening, G, below the waist-line, of a long bustle or skirtsupporter, F,extending beyond the ends of the opening G, and arranged above the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a corset provided with a wide opening, G, below the waist-line in the back, and a long bustle or corset skirt-supporter arranged above said opening and extending beyond the ends thereof, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

LAVINIA H. FOY. \Vitnesses:

CHARLES H. R. No'rT, LEWIS J. ISAACS. 

